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Emergency unemployment insurance benefits deadline extended

The deadline for jobless Texans to qualify for emergency unemployment insurance benefits has been extended to Jan. 1, 2014. Federal legislation signed by President Barack Obama on Jan. 2, 2013 will extend benefits to approximately 120,000 Texans who would have otherwise exhausted their unemployment benefits on Dec. 31, 2012. Claimants should continue to request unemployment benefit payments on their scheduled day. The legislation did not add benefits for individuals who have already exhausted their regular state unemployment benefits, federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation and Extended Benefits. Claimants who currently receive unemployment insurance (UI) benefits may find updated information on their claims by logging on to ui.texasworkforce.org, or by calling the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Tele-Serv at 800-558-8321 and selecting Option 2 (Claim Status). There is no need to call TWC to qualify for this extension unless claimants receive a letter telling them to do so. Emergency unemployment benefits provide temporary income for those individuals who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. Benefits are federally funded and Texas employers will not be charged for any claims paid on this extension. TWC and the 28 local Workforce Development Boards are committed to providing work search assistance, training and other services to unemployed Texans. Thousands of job postings are available on WorkInTexas.com, TWC’s online job-matching website.The Texas Workforce Commission is a state agency dedicated to helping Texas employers, workers and communities prosper economically. For details on TWC and the programs it offers in coordination with its network of local workforce development boards, call 512-463-8942 or visit www.texasworkforce.org.